Protected objects

We administer the Protected Objects Act 1975 (formerly known as the Antiquities Act) which regulates:

the export of protected New Zealand objects

the illegal export and import of protected New Zealand and foreign objects

the sale, trade and ownership of taonga tūturu, including what to do if you find a taonga or Māori artefact.

The Act also incorporates the UNESCO Convention 1970 and the UNIDROIT Convention. A copy of the Act can be found on the New Zealand legislation website. Details about the Ministry's enforcement and prosecution policy for this act is available on our legislation webpage.

Antiquities Act 1975

On 1 November 2006, the Protected Objects Act came into force, superseding the Antiquities Act 1975. The name of the Act had to change as the term 'antiquities' was replaced with categories of 'protected objects'. Many of the principles and regulations of the Antiquities Act remain in the Protected Objects Act.

UNESCO and UNIDROIT Conventions

New Zealand's access to the UNESCO and UNIDROIT Conventions came into force in May 2007. The Conventions will further increase international protection for New Zealand heritage objects. It allows New Zealand to recover illegally exported objects and other signatory countries to recover protected objects illegally exported into New Zealand.

The UNESCO Convention establishes a framework for international co-operation. This is supplemented by the UNIDROIT Convention which provides for specific legal actions to recover stolen or illegally exported objects.